Stars will keep on shining
There was good news announced at the city council meeting Monday evening about the lease held by Shine-N-Stars.
City Clerk Bill Fann said he received word from Barbara Brimer that the lease had been accepted at a rate of $1,200 per month. Brimer said she did not know about the letter sent to the city clerk and the group has no intention of vacating the premises.
Fann reported that the new lease agreement had been sent to Shine-N-Stars but he has not received back a signed copy as of Monday.
"It is good to retain that business and those jobs in Piedmont and to be able to help those children," Mayor Charile Fagan said.
After a lengthy discussion in the work session the council voted to set a standard rate for on-call service pay for the utility departments within the city. It was agreed to pay all employees a fee of $125 per week. That amount is paid for the employee to carry a beeper and be responsible for any calls which restricts their activities.
"This service is vital to residents who are on medical devices and it is important that we pay them what they deserve. The employees can't go anywhere when they are on call," said Councilman Eddie Baldwin."
Employees will continue to be paid time and a half any call-outs.
In other business, the council also voted unanimously to set the rate of reimbursement for out-of-pocket food expenses for travel and training at $30 per day.
Fann said he received the report from the Jacksonville State University archaeology department on the cemetery located near Bennett Lumber Company. According to the report there are 15 definite graves - and possibly more - at the site dating as late as the 1800s. There was an owner of the property listed in the 1840s but no transactions were found to indicate the later owners.
Fann said there was no indications that it was a slave or tribal cemetery and recommended that the city annex the property in order to have the right to put up boundary fencing.
Fagan agreed and said "We need to move on that and get it secured, fenced as soon as possible. We need to find out as much as we can about the historical significance of it."
Fagan reported that Nathan Pope recently purchased the Buster Miles property and has plans to make changes in the building. He also reported that Bob Rogers had made some more improvement to the old Greenfront Store.

Eye of the beholder Springs Global 'girls' raise money for charity
It's not often that low-cost entertainment like it comes to Piedmont.
Saturday night, the Springs Global Relay for Life team sponsored the "Ms. Springtime Beauty Contest," a womanless beauty pageant that was too good to miss. The admission fee was only $3 and the crowd of 150 people definitely got a good deal.
The best thing about the event is that all the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to help in cancer research.
A dozen men crossed the lines of typical male behavior by wearing female attire and strutting their stuff down the runway in the Piedmont High School auditorium.
"I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt," said spectator Ritchie Hale.
The competition began with David "Harlequina Davidson" McIsaac taking the stage in his black evening gown. Emcee Hillary Howard described his - uh her - special interests as he - uh she - danced to the delight of the crowd. The high heels did not seem to hinder the dancing, although it is uncertain whether McIsaac had much practice before the event.
"David is in touch with his feminine side or he wouldn't be doing this," said Cathy Young, a Springs Global co-worker.
Lee "Bubbles" McGatha was the second contestant to appear on stage and was dressed a little less formally. His Brittany Spears outfit was a real winner, although someone should have told him that black bras show underneath a white blouse. Then again it may have been part of his strategy.
When contestant No. 5 stopped at the end of the runaway, Hale brought cheers from the audience as he stepped forward and threw Speedy "Kandi Kaine" Smith a few dollar bills on stage.
The trend continued throughout the evening with some audience members tucking the ětipsî in discreet places. It was good clean fun and the money poured in, or to be more specific, was tucked in, to benefit a good cause.
There were no official judges of the pageant. Votes were cast by placing a dollar or more into the boxes each contestant carried during intermission.
Also during intermission door prizes of comforters and sheet sets were given away and audience members were given the opportunity to participate in a silent auction for 8 x 10 framed photographs of the contestants. "Harlequina Davidson" McIsaac's photo brought a high bid of $50.
The winner of the pageant, "Bubbles" McGatha, took home a trophy for raising the most money.
For McGatha, cancer research holds a very special place in his heart. His grandfather, Leroy Warmack, has dealt with cancer on a personal level when he had part of a lung removed in 1997. McGatha also has a 16-year-old cousin in Tennessee who has been affected. "All these guys are winners. They really put on a good show," said McGatha's mother, Denise Fortenberry.
The pageant added $2,252.71 to the team's goal of $20,000 this year. Doug Scott, team leader and personnel manager, said the team hopes to be the largest contributor in Calhoun County.
Before Saturday night the 50-member team had raised $15,000 by having yard sales, candle sales, cookie dough sales and sandwich lunch sales for the employees of Springs Global.
"I want the Springs Global team and the community to know that I am proud that they have worked so hard to help us reach our goal," said Scott.
Employee Patsy Pollard said, "We all have friends or relatives that are cancer survivors or have succumbed to cancer. It is important that cancer research continues."
Other men who participated in the pageant were Steve Smith, Justin Adair, Jeffrey Adair, Paul Williams, David Dority, Kent Kelley, Randall Bangs, Charles Givens and Terry Powell.

Old clunkers won't cut it City will renew its efforts to deal with adandoned vehicles
The motor is blown and the tires are flat. It has not been moved in months.
That vehicle sitting idle in the yard may be a family treasure, but it could soon result in a citation.
The Nuisance Abatement Board and the police department are working together to clean up Piedmont, and they're keeping a special eye out for any old junkers sitting around.
"One of the things we will be targeting is abandoned vehicles," said Sgt. David Kirk, who serves on the board and as a police officer.
Under Piedmont ordinance 12-53, any vehicle deemed inoperable is subject to removal at the owner's expense. The local fee for wrecker service is $50 to $75 per incident.
The ordinance also covers partially dismantled, wrecked or discarded vehicles, as well as those that cannot be safely operated or moved under their own power.
Vehicles housed in an enclosed building are not subject to the ordinance.
"Vehicles must also display a current license plate," Kirk said.
In order to get a license plate, state law requires proof of insurance.
"We can go on property and sticker the vehicle. After 72 hours, if the vehicle has not been moved, we can have it towed away at the owner's expense," said Kirk.
Compliance with the ordinance could lead to a little extra money for those who no longer want to keep the vehicle.
Tommy Carroll of Carroll's Wrecker Service said he would tow away vehicles in exchange for the title. If the vehicle is worth more than the wrecker fee, he said he would be willing to pay the difference.
The Nuisance Abatement Board is scheduled for have a meeting April 18 at 6 p.m. in the City Administration Building.

The Journal moving to its new home on Wednesday
A major change is planned for The Piedmont Journal on Wednesday. The office equipment and supplies will be relocated to the new location at 102-A South Church Street.
"The decision to relocate hinged on the belief that the current location's size exceeded our operation's requirements. It boiled down to the simple fact that there was more room than was needed," said Publisher Robert Jackson.
The new office is across the street from Lively's in the building formerly occupied by Purcell's grocery. Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office will be closed daily from noon until 1 p.m. for lunch.
To contact the staff, call 447-2809 or 447-2837. The new fax number is 447-9964.